Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae in free-living wild boars in Paraná, Brazil

This is the first study conducted in Paraná, Brazil, to investigate Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhyo) infection in free-living wild boars. Eighty-eight wild boars were managed by authorized controllers between 2017 and 2019 in the state of Paraná in southern Brazil. Management georeferencing, sex, and weight were recorded for each animal. The presence of Mhyo antibodies in wild boar serum samples was evaluated using a commercial indirect ELISA kit. The presence of enzootic pneumonia-like gross lesions was evaluated, and the observed macroscopic lesions were subjected to immunohistochemistry (IHC). The Chi-square test and the intensity of the association with the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were used to evaluate the differences in the qualitative variables between groups (sex and municipality). Juvenile wild boars exhibited a higher seroprevalence than older ones ( p = 0.005). The Teixeira Soares municipality differed in Mhyo seroprevalence in comparison with Castro ( p < 0.001), Ponta Grossa ( p = 0.004), and Carambeí ( p < 0.001). Females were 6.79 times more likely to present consolidation lesions than males ( p = 0.004). Among the evaluated lung samples with injuries, 57.1% (8/14) and 53.8% (7/13) were Mhyo positive by IHC in Castro and Ponta Grossa, respectively, confirming that the identified macroscopic lesions were caused by Mhyo. This study demonstrates the circulation of Mhyo in free-living wild boars, which raises concerns regarding the epidemiological role of this animal species for the spread of the pathogen.